rarely

adverb

rare·​ly ˈrer-lē How to pronounce rarely (audio)
1
: not often : seldom
2
: with rare skill : excellently
3
: in an extreme or exceptional manner

Examples of rarely in a Sentence

She rarely talks about her past. Rarely do we see this kind of weather in our area. Only rarely is surgery necessary to treat this condition.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Commercial flights, meanwhile, are rarely convenient for such short-haul trips. Amira El-Fekki‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 May 2025 But historian Stein pointed out that progress is rarely linear. Juliana Kim, NPR, 28 May 2025 Intentionality Opportunistic growth is rarely sustainable. Ayo Adepoju, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025 The Hot 100 always includes a wide swath of ubiquitous hits — but rarely have so many of those hits endured at once. Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 28 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for rarely

Word History

First Known Use

1549, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rarely was in 1549

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Cite this Entry

“Rarely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rarely. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

rarely

adverb
rare·​ly ˈra(ə)r-lē How to pronounce rarely (audio)
ˈre(ə)r-
: not often : seldom

More from Merriam-Webster on rarely

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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